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La Louisiane Cocktail Drink

La Louisiane Cocktail Recipe

Gavin Wrigley Written by Gavin Wrigley
Cheers to a timeless classic with our La Louisiane Cocktail recipe! A blend of rye whiskey, Bénédictine, and sweet vermouth ensures every glass is a treat.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 254

Ingredients
 

  • 1 oz Rye Whiskey
  • 1 oz sweet Vermouth
  • 1 oz Bénédictine
  • 3 dashes Peychaud's aromatic bitters
  • 3 dashes Absinthe
  • Cherry - for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Cocktail Glass
  • Measuring Jigger
  • Stirrer or Bar Spoon
  • Mixing Glass

Instructions

  • Prep Glass: Place your cocktail glass in the freezer in advance or stir some ice cubes in it to chill it.
  • Add Absinthe: Put 3 dashes Absinthe into the mixing glass.
  • Add Bitters: Put 3 dashes Peychaud's aromatic bitters.
  • Add Bénédictine: Pour 1 oz Bénédictine.
  • Add Sweet Vermouth: Measure and pour 1 oz sweet Vermouth.
  • Add Rye Whiskey: Pour 1 oz Rye Whiskey.
  • Stir Gently: Stir the ingredients with ice using a bar spoon.
  • Strain: Strain the mixture in your chilled cocktail glass.
  • Garnish: Drop a cherry into the glass for garnish.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Rye Whiskey: Bourbon is an alternative, although it brings a slightly sweeter, fuller profile to the drink. I've done this when I'm out of rye, and it's delightful!
  • Bénédictine: While there's nothing quite like Bénédictine, in desperate times, I've used Yellow Chartreuse. It provides a different herbal complexity but does the job.
  • Sweet Vermouth: Dry vermouth can work with simple syrup to adjust sweetness. Alternatively, you can try a different fortified wine for a subtle flavor change.

Making a Pitcher of La Louisiane Cocktail:

  • Scale: To create a pitcher for 8 servings, multiply all the ingredients by 8. So, 8 oz of rye whiskey, 8 oz of sweet vermouth, and 8 oz of Bénédictine, 24 drops of absinthe and Peychaud’s bitters.
  • Mix: In a large pitcher, combine ice with the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, absinthe and bitters. Stir thoroughly.
  • Serve: Pour into individual chilled cocktail glasses, garnish with a cherry, and serve immediately.

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

  • Rye Whiskey Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic whiskey alternative. Several brands offer varieties that mimic the warmth and depth of whiskey.
  • Bénédictine Substitute: Go for a non-alcoholic herbal tea blend that mimics some of the herbaceous qualities of Bénédictine.
  • Other ingredients Substitute: Go for no-alcoholic options available in the market.
  • Proceed As Usual: Replace the original ingredients with these non-alcoholic substitutes, follow the given steps, and savor a non-alcoholic La Louisiane.

Making it Vegan:

  • Ensure that the sweet vermouth you're using doesn't contain animal-derived products, as some might use gelatin in the production process.
  • Replace the traditional cherry garnish with a vegan-certified cherry to ensure it's free from animal-derived coloring or flavoring agents.